PSR J1024-0719: A Millisecond Pulsar in an Unusual Long-Period Orbit

Understand

PSR J1024$-$0719 is a millisecond pulsar that was long thought to be isolated.

• However, puzzling results concerning its velocity, distance, and low rotational period derivative have led to reexamination of its properties.
• We present updated radio timing observations along with new and archival optical data that show PSR J1024$-$0719 is most likely in a long period (2$-$20 kyr) binary system with a low-mass ($\approx 0.4\,M_\odot$) low-metallicity ($Z \approx -0.9\,$ dex) main sequence star.
• Such a system can explain most of the anomalous properties of this pulsar.